Here's That Rainy Day: SATB Choral Octavo

Ed Lojeski's arrangement captures the wistfulness of Burke's standard without forcing artificial complexity. The writing sits comfortably in SATB voices and accommodates singers at different experience levels, while the jazz harmony and sophisticated lyrical content keep mature musicians engaged. This is the kind of standard that reminds ensemble members why they sing.

Rain viewed from indoors. There's a reflective, slightly melancholic quality to the music, but one touched by warmth and acceptance rather than despair. The arrangement creates intimate moments within the ensemble sound, pulling listeners into the narrator's quiet observations.

Intermediate to advanced SATB choirs seeking jazz standards that work equally well in concert settings and competitions. This arrangement works for both community choirs and high school groups comfortable with jazz inflection and lyrical subtlety.

• Establish the harmonic sophistication early in rehearsal by isolating the chord changes in the opening phrase. Have singers hear how each voice contributes to the jazz sonorities rather than thinking of the arrangement as simply four melody lines.
• Shape the text naturally according to the lyrical story. The second verse often carries more emotional weight than the first, so resist the urge to sing both identically.
• Balance your soprano and alto voices carefully during the sustained harmony sections. These moments define the piece's emotional color, and too much soprano weight will brighten what should feel introspective.

Pair this with other jazz standards to create a set that appeals to broader audiences beyond traditional concert-goers. It also serves as a sophisticated solo feature if you have a strong alto or soprano soloist; the remaining voices can provide subtle harmonic support.

• Singing jazz inflections and articulations specific to swing phrasing
• Reading and balancing seventh chord voicings in popular music context
• Interpreting lyrics with jazz sensibility and emotional nuance
• Sustaining blend across four parts during harmony-driven passages